Welcome
to my blog! First, let me take the time to introduce myself. My name
is Tracy and I grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with my sister, Tara,
and my two wonderful parents. I was always surrounded by family growing
up and cherish each and every memory created. My husband, Fred, is my
best friend and the love of my life. I can’t imagine living this
journey without him by my side. I also have two daughters that make my
life shine! My seven year old reads, reads, and reads some more. I
sometimes have to tell her to turn off the lights at night! My ten year
old stepdaughter is a feisty, self-named tomboy with goals to be the
next great American female softball or basketball player. They can be
so different! Finally my nine-month old Golden Retriever makes life
extra interesting and special. Because after all, dogs make a house a
home.
It
took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up. In
1996, I graduated from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with a
BA in Business Management. Moravian is a small liberal arts college
nestled into the downtown district of the city. A little tidbit about
the school – it’s the sixth oldest college in the nation. I thought I
was going to be the next “Angela Bower from Who’s the Boss”...you
remember…she was an advertising executive who had the cute male nanny!
After two business jobs, I decided I wanted to switch to a career in
elementary education. Summers off? Who wouldn’t want that?? After
going back to Moravian for my elementary certification in 1999, I landed
a 4th grade position in the neighboring Easton Area School
District. To date, I am still there teaching fourth grade and I love
it!
For
over twenty years, I have been a runner. The sport has been in and out
of my life since my freshman year of high school, where it first
changed my life. It gave me the self-confidence I needed, and the
physical activity my body deserved. I left competitive running back in
1998 to pursue my second degree, and just to live life without the worry
of training and competing. For years, I ran off and on. You know the
times…when a dress needed to fit…a few miles can help!
All
my life I have had a love-hate relationship with my body. We as women
look at these magazines on the shelves at the grocery stores. You know
the ones! Seriously? How do those women fit into a size two after
giving birth 16 days before?? After 37 years of maturity, I have come
to realize to love the body I am in. Running now has changed my
life...again. I am fit, comfortable, devoted, and almost ready for
competitions. It feels so good that the missing piece of me has
reappeared and is ready to go. Along with that, comes a few pounds
lost, and a bikini ready body for summer. I have learned to monitor
portions, and to just eat healthfully most days of the week. Do I
spurge? Heck yes! My husband and I love to go out to dinner, and
especially to split a dessert. That’s what makes life worth living.
Life
hasn’t been easy, and I would be lying if I said it was. Life is a
road with continual hurdles and obstacles. There are choices to be made
and decisions to accept. Being a working wife and mother, plus trying
to fit in daily running workouts, life can be stressful. But at the end
of the night, when I sit down with my husband and a nice glass of red
wine, it’s all worth it.
I love this! It is so neat to see people with similar interest, goals and lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteHello Tracy,
ReplyDeleteJust a quick message to ask if you would be interested in a 'mutual' following on twitter. I am currently following you now and am awaiting for your follow-back if you indeed decide to do so... (#FYI I do RT's for all #Triathletes #Cyclists #UltraRunners & #Marathoners who follow me on Twitter and have something important they want mentioned...)
All the very best to you and yours for the rest of 2012 and beyond Tracy. Hope to hear back from you...
Darin
twitter.com/DarinArmstrong
Team LIVESTRONG
Hello Tracy,
ReplyDeleteI came across this blog when my Google alert for Moravian listed your writings. I have enjoyed seeing some of your photos of Bethlehem (and a few of coach as well). I was a slow poke on the XC team (90-93) but enjoyed practices when the team would run along the canal, in the neighborhoods north of campus, and up at Lehigh. Also, I recognized Fred from some of your posts- I was an RA at Moravian in Rau when Fred was a freshmen on my floor. I remember he was keen on the no smoking policy during our first dorm meeting and I instantly knew we would get along. Say "Hi" to Fred for me and keep up the good work with the blog!
Sincerely,
John McLaughlin
mclaughj@rci.rutgers.edu